CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH)-10 data showed that as of June 1, coverage for Measles and Rubella was at 84%, whereas polio was at 77%, versus the target of 95%.

In Talakayan sa PIA, a media forum hosted by PIA-10, Dr. Angeli Lloren Caguioa, Medical Officer IV, DOH-10 said, "We have about 76,000 pa na dapat bakunahan [still must be vaccinated] for the whole Region 10."

The vaccines being used by DOH work and are safe, assured Dr. Caguioa.

"So kini atong ginahatag nga bakuna sa DOH, same ra ni sa mga bakuna nga ginahatag sa pedia, but these vaccines are free, so dili na kinahanglan magbayad unya ihatod pa gyud sailang balay kai ga house to house," she explained.

(The vaccines given by DOH are the same vaccines given by private pediatricians, but these vaccines are free, so there is no need to pay, and then they are delivered to their house because they are given house to house)

In the region, the lowest coverage is in Cagayan de Oro, while the highest is in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte.

"Naa sila at 93%, gamay nalang 2% na lang (they are at 93%, we only need a few, about 2% only)," the doctor said.

Dr. Caguioa said the local government unit of Iligan is very active. Among their strengths was forming partnerships with non-government organizations (NGOs) to help them advocate the DOH’s supplemental measles, rubella, and polio immunization campaign.

They also compute a target per day, and those who cannot reach their quota will double time the following day.

Dr. Caguioa explained that the Measles, Rubella, and Polio Supplemental Immunization Activity is to ensure that these viruses will be eradicated or suppress any outbreak.

"Atong Polio na eradicate na na siya before, 1988 pa. But it doesn’t mean nga na eradicate na dili na mubalik, if we stop vaccination or mugamay atong coverage, naa gyud possibility nga mubalik siya. Like adtong 2019, nibalik siya, so we had another round of supplemental immunization," she said.

(Our Polio was already eradicated in 1988. But that does not mean it will not come back. If we stop vaccination or if our coverage lessens, there is a possibility that the virus will come back. Like in 2019, it came back, so we did another round of supplemental immunization)

According to DOH, the campaign will continue until it reaches its target of 95%.

"Naghatag na og memorandum ang central office, this campaign will be extended para maabot gyud nato ang 95% nga target to achieve herd immunity, so padayon pa gihapon kita," said Dr. Caguioa.

(The central office has sent a memorandum that this campaign will be extended to really achieve 95% target herd immunity, so we will continue). (JMOR/PIA-10)